Daily Republican., 1887-05-24
Free at Last,

Ch2rles Bake, who for nearly four
years has bean an inmate of New Cas-
tie jail, stepped forth yesterday after.
noon fros man, after having sszved
the full sentence imposed by tie court.
He was arrested by Chief Of Police
Hawkins In November. 1888. for bur.
glary and larceny, In feloDiously enter.
ing the house OF Joshua L. Pusey on
the night OF the 18th OF that month. At
the hearing he was committed In do
fault OF bail for trial ct the Court Of
General Sessions, but She Case was not
taken up until the May term. when he
was convicted OF burglary, aud the lar.
ceny Of silk umbrella and q pair Of
gold spcctaoles, and sentenced 70 be
whipped aud Imprisoned for three
years. Al the instance of his wife and
sister the lnshes were remitted by the
Governor. In the following Septem-
Der Blake made his escape, bat within
forty. eiRh. hours was captured by two
polica off icsrs In this city and returned
to his old Quarters.
A wiro door was then placed over the
closely watched for some Tins, but at
last theae precautions were removed
and he was even permitted to walk in
the yard. During all this time his wife.
who resided in Philad slphia, corre-
sponded with him q. least twice week
and on Saturday morning, Deosmber
IA, 1884, hs received letter from her
stating that their little boy was very
Ill.
In tho after noon o! that day, while
Blake was taking hi, usual exercise in
tho gard with another prisoner, who
was serving term for horss stealing,
l they noticsd some long planks which
had been used by workme In making
repairs to the Jail, and 1t was but the
work OF few minutes for them to raise
one OF these planks and scale the wall.
Their dight was soon discovered, but II
WAS several days before they were
traced to Oxford, Pa, when Blake was
shot IN the right ankle By Oficer Mar.
guess OF this city, before ho would sur
render. he was hen brought TO this
city and returned to New CASTLE jail,
where he remained until legally sot f-ee
| esterday.
This wonnd caused him considerable
Isuffering, aud for some time 1t was
thought it would bs necessary to ampu
ta.e his foot. During the entire term OF
his imprisonment his wife bss been do
voted 10 him. She furnished his cell
nicely, and out of her earnings as O
dressmsker, brought him some delicacy
every time che was perm itted to visit
him, while her letters were always fill-
cd with words Of cheer. In an inter.
view which the ritter had with Blske'a
aged mother In Philadelphia, some.
thing over a year ago, she said that
whsn Charlie was boy In Baltimore,
he WAS injured by blow on the head
and that since then Ills mind has been
sumswhat affected, especially II he
drank glass OF liquor.
Since his i'm prlson nent he has signed
the temperance pledge, and made many
promises Of reformation. 1t Is under
stood that 1t IL Blaks's inten tion to tax q
his wife and child and 60 to some other
city, probably In the West, where he
will live an honest and upright life,
and l: Is hoped, for the sake Of the wife
vino has proved 30 faithful to him, thai
he Will carry 1t into effect. Ills wife
was waiting for him when he was re.
leased yesterday, and when he stepped
from the jail door, neatly dressed, aud
having every appearance Of O visitor
just coming out, his joy knew nc
bounds. They spent some two hours
walking around New Castle. and left
on the 6.l7 train last evening for Phila
ldelphiA.